Evolution of an Entry

It is Thursday, so that means I am joining Gina for her weekly party at The Shabby Chic Cottage.  This week I reworked an area that I was pretty pleased with already.  But I when I found a great little table at Carter's Creek Station that I had to take home, I just had to rearrange this area that I had just done a post about.  So here is the first before:

And, here is the next before:

And, I was really happy with it at this point.  But, I have been trying to find a space for some vintage mirrors that I have picked up along the past couple of years.  And, that cute little table.  Plus, the bright colors were not as fallish as I would have liked so here is the evolved entry.

Mr Hughes actually liked the idea and he happily hung my mirrors for me.  I know of 2 other small mirrors that I may pick up this weekend to add to it.  Eventually, I would love to paint the entry a slightly darker white, but it will be this color for a while longer (did I mention it is 2 stories?  Mr. Hughes isn't going to let me rent scaffolding anytime soon!)  I found a home for the painting with the red poppies that he painted and it looks great!  And, I just swapped the chairs.  The table didn't need much work.  Miss Linda had stripped the veneer off the top. And it looked great just as it was.  I just added a coat of Dark Brown Briwax and buffed.

I added my birdcage and some other little treasures.

So, I guess the third time really is a charm.  I think I'll find a couple of grey and white pumpkins to fall this area up a little.

Now, I am off so I can see the other wonderful transformations of the partygoers.

Last Weekend Lovelies

The Hughes clan went out to a few places this weekend as usual.  I actually have a little video of a cute new little antique store in Nolensville called the Roost.  It is next door to Three French Hens... also a place with wonderful finds.  I HAD to go back there last Friday to pick up Baby Hughes' sippy cup.  And, they were kind enough to hold that finial that I have lost sleep over. Remember?

So perfect!  Well, here it is in its new spot!

 

I put it on Mr. Hughes' armoire in our bedroom.  I have been working on projects here and there for our bedroom.  And, it is really starting to shape up...  I just really want hardwood upstairs too.  Our carpet is just the builder's grade and it is amazing how fast it wears out. YUCK!  But, that is in the future (distant!)  

Okay... back to the lovelies!

On Saturday, we went out to Carter's Creek Station.... one of my favorites.  Miss Linda owns it and she is a hoot!  So sweet and always has the best things.  Truthfully, I try to keep her a secret so I get all the best of the best!  Case in point, I have been lusting after this beautiful small armoire that had the best price and a finish that I wouldn't change (that is saying a lot... I paint everything!)  I was talking about it, drooling over it, imagining scenarios that it would work in our house.  And, wouldn't you know it, a lady came and bought it right there!!  I know she heard me lusting after it and it made her want it even more!  I hope she didn't paint it... want to see it?

Did I mention the price? $95!!  And the inside was in such good condition.... oh I wish it was here with me... just didn't have the space.  Wouldn't it be lovely in a nursery?  Oh, can you see the reflection of my little partner in crime?

Here is another lovely there that I am lusting over...

Sparkly huh?  I can't think of anywhere it would go... maybe the laundry room?  *wink*

Okay, one more

I love these simple brass chandeliers... we have a larger in this style that we painted white and is in our dining room.

I came home with one more little something that has had me busy moving and tweaking.  I can't wait to have it finished and take some photos of  it.

Heirloom Party

I am joining my wonderful friend Marie at Emma Calls Me Mama for her Heirloom Party.  Now Mr. Hughes and I don't have too many heirlooms.  Most of my family's heirlooms are held by my mother and her brothers and sisters.  But, I will show you a few of the ones that I have.

This blue bowl once was my grandmother's.  We were very close.  I remember her using it every year to mix cookie dough.  I always told her how much I loved this blue bowl and that I would love to have it one day.  I came for a visit a few years before she passed away and she gave me an option.  She told me that she had gone out to buy a new blue bowl that looked just like it, but it was much larger.  She told me that I could either have that one or the REAL blue bowl.  I chose the real one, of course.  She made me wrap it up in a towel and take it to my car immediately so that no one could see.  She then put the fake blue bowl in its place.  I guess she was worried that someone would get upset that she had given it to me.  I don't think anyone else had the desire to have it.  After she passed away, I also inherited the fake blue bowl.

This little Santa belongs to Mr. Hughes.  It was his father's when he was little.  Most all the paint has worn off, but we like it that way.  Mr. Hughes adores this little guy.

Here is another thing that I had to have of my grandmother's.  These giant fork and spoon always hung on the wall in her kitchen.  I always thought they were so `neat.  I never realized many, many people had these in their kitchen.  After I received these, I painted them black and now they hang in my kitchen.

And this is probably the heirloom that I am most fond of.  This is  my grandmother's rosary.  My mother actually has it now.  My grandmother carried it at her wedding, along with my mother at hers, and then I carried it at mine.  I don't have a color photo of it... it is silver with these pretty periwinkle blue beads.  One day, my mother will pass it on to me.

Well, now I am off to see what everyone else has brought.  Thanks so much for hosting, Marie.

Small, Inexpensive Transformation

Today I am joining sweet Gina at the Shabby Chic Cottage for her weekly blog party.  I am sliding in at the last minute.  This past weekend while lugging my treasures to the car, I saw these old cabinet doors literally laying on the ground.

  Two of them had plastic fake flowers melted to them  But they looked like they were in okay shape other than that, so I rushed inside to see how much the owner would take for them.  There were 3 large and 1 small.  And she said $20 for all.  SOLD!!    I took them out today and cleaned them and got all of that nasty plastic flower residue off of them.  Then I stapled burlap that I had left over from Baby Hughes' birthday decorations.  On the first , I was trying to be neat and tidy and hide the staples.  Well, on that that one the staples went through.  So, on the other two, I wasn't as neat and I stapled the burlap to the thicker part of the wood.  Perfect!  I remembered I had these little clips leftover from some drapery rings.  So, I looped them through the open weave of the burlap.  Then I found some photos and vintage prayer cards and clipped them right up.  So here is what they look like now:

I love the way that they look in front of the window, but, Baby Hughes will most likely knock them off. So, I will probably hang them up in our bedroom. Or I may find a window in a room that Baby Hughes is never in.  I am still undecided.  Well, I am off to see what I have missed at the party so far!

What Followed Me Home

 

This is my excuse from now on.  This stuff follows me home.  How could I turn it away or leave it outside?  I wouldn't refuse a cute puppy, so how can I refuse a wonderful, large ironstone bowl with patina AND a crack?  It would be heartless, so I brought it all home.  I made it home with a rusty birdcage that now holds a plant (hope it lives!)  And that wonderful bowl and the plate that is so, so perfect with the others on my plate rack in the kitchen.  That perfect oval frame that used to hold bubble glass.  Some folding cabinet frames (they are in the corner, my photo didn't turn out... it has been so rainy.)  And do you see those two little blocks on the plate... do you need a closer look?  okay!

How cute are my little silhouette printer blocks?  A little girl and a little boy!  I got them at Scarlett's.  I forgot to mention that we went there on the way home from Nolensville. If you are ever in the area, you should check it out.  And, please tell her that we sent you!  Mr. Hughes does design work here and there for her, and on one trip back from her store, he brought me a little boy block.  So, I decided that I must see if there was a little girl there.  And, there was!  Of course I couldn't leave the second little boy there, I mean c'mon!! And, here comes my major find.  Something I have been searching for....(no, not that medical cabinet.......)

 

It is a 10 gallon crown crock!!!! Aren't you excited?  Isn't it wonderful?  I'll admit, it is much larger than what I originally had in mind, but the price was right!  Here's a close up....

Now, the only problem is deciding if it stays in the entry where it will hold umbrellas.  Or, will I beg Mr. Hughes to lug it upstairs to the Studio where it will hold rolls of fabric....hmmmm....tough choice.  Well, I am off.  I hope to post a project involving those folding cabinet frames really soon!